Lance Ball

bobp@herald-mail.com In this time of preseason practices, coaches try different tactics to get their teams ready for the upcoming football season. At the University of Maryland, it's pretty certain that coach Ralph Friedgen won't be pushing the Terrapins through any 20-mile hikes anytime soon. Leg injuries have become the major hurdle for Maryland as it prepares for its 2003 season opener at Northern Illinois on Aug. 28. The little strains and pulls have sidelined a number of Terrapins players, but hasn't lessened the workload Friedgen expects.

bobp@herald-mail.com COLLEGE PARK, Md. With one offensive adjustment, the University of Maryland turned its homecoming matchup with No. 19 Virginia into a sing-along. It was easy when they started to follow the bouncing Ball. Running back Lance Ball, that is. The Terrapins showed some slightly different looks and featured Ball by using an inside run out of a shotgun set that turned into sweet music in a surprising 45-33 Atlantic Coast Conference win on Saturday at Byrd Stadium.

COLLEGE PARK, Md. - The University of Maryland defense has to wonder where it all went wrong. The Terrapins aren't struggling with the things they are doing. The problem is more a case of the things they aren't. Maryland is being put to task for its failure to contain Clemson in last week's 30-17 loss, which all but eliminated the Terps from ACC championship considerations. The Terps were all around Clemson's ball carriers, but Maryland found itself trying to pull hits out of clear air. And now, it is grasping at straws for answers.

bobp@herald-mail.com COLLEGE PARK, Md. - The days of football coaches are like field goals. They are either good or bad. For University of Maryland football coach Ralph Friedgen, Tuesday felt as good as splitting the uprights. "It's always better coming to talk to you guys on a Tuesday after a win," said Friedgen to the assembled media representatives at his weekly press conference. There was a much different feeling surrounding the whole program after the Terrapins played their best game of the season last Saturday in a 22-12 win at Wake Forest.

COLLEGE PARK, Md. - The Maryland football team has been coming up a dollar short in fourth quarters. Breaks and close games have gone against the Terrapins over the last few years. And in many cases, it came down to plays in the fourth quarter. And just why is anyone's guess. "It's frustrating," Maryland quarterback Sam Hollenbach said. "It's not just in one game. It's something we have struggled in since last year. The errors and mistakes are killing us. " Since coach Ralph Friedgen has been at Maryland, the Terps have had some difficulties in the fourth quarter.

COLLEGE PARK, Md. - This time, if anyone asks Sam Hollenbach about one lump or two, it has nothing to do with sugar in his tea. This time, it has everything to do about his 6-foot-5 frame. The University of Maryland's quarterback uncovered a hidden dimension to the Terrapins' attack on Saturday. It was the quarterback running with the ball, which had a direct impact on a 26-20 victory over North Carolina State. "It was fun to get a little running in," the senior said.

When Ralph Friedgen thinks back on the season that was 2006, the season that wasn't is one of the first things that come to mind. "When you look back on the whole season, last year was very close to being a very special season," said the Maryland football coach during the Terrapins' annual media day. "If we had won one of those last two games, we could've been in Jacksonville playing for the ACC Championship and maybe even the Orange Bowl....

bobp@herald-mail.com COLLEGE PARK, Md. - Keon Lattimore's performance against Wake Forest was about as refreshing as a cold beer on a hot day. Lattimore quenched the University of Maryland's thirst for a running game with his career-best 76 yards and a touchdown in the 22-12 win. And it's all because the sophomore has a different brand to the game. He used to be Keon. Now he is Keon Light. Lattimore enhanced his game by dropping 20 pounds to get ready to make good on any chance to play for the Terps.

bobp@herald-mail.com COLLEGE PARK, Md. - It has been increasingly difficult for the University of Maryland football team to make a stand these days. It's tough to have a firm base with only one leg. Maryland's offense is hopping around these days, especially since the running game has been all but grounded for the last two weeks. And without the ability to run, the Terrapins have been prevented from having the ability to win. "It is frustrating because of the amount of work that we have put in it," Maryland coach Ralph Friedgen said.

COLLEGE PARK, Md. - The University of Maryland running attack is like the first half of a knock-knock riddle. The Terrapins have built their ground game around four running backs, with one always seeming to have the right answer when opportunity knocks. The Terps have excelled, though, when one of those backs has answered in anticipation of that knock. That's the friendly rivalry of the Maryland running game. Running backs Keon Lattimore, Lance Ball, Josh Allen and J.P. Humber are best of friends and work together to keep the Terps moving on the ground.

COLLEGE PARK, Md. - The University of Maryland defense has to wonder where it all went wrong. The Terrapins aren't struggling with the things they are doing. The problem is more a case of the things they aren't. Maryland is being put to task for its failure to contain Clemson in last week's 30-17 loss, which all but eliminated the Terps from ACC championship considerations. The Terps were all around Clemson's ball carriers, but Maryland found itself trying to pull hits out of clear air. And now, it is grasping at straws for answers.

COLLEGE PARK, Md. - At first glance, Chris Turner looks like a budding rocker on American Idol. And to be honest, the University of Maryland's blonde, curly haired quarterback is in the same boat as any of those singing contestants. His fate and immediate future is in the hands of the judges. Even after throwing for 255 yards and a touchdown in his first start and leading the Terrapins to a 28-26 win over Georgia Tech at Byrd Stadium on Saturday, he's still in the final two for the job. It is still down to Turner and opening-day starter Jordan Steffy, who missed Saturday's game with the remnants of a concussion, for the right to be the reigning Terrapin Idol.

When Ralph Friedgen thinks back on the season that was 2006, the season that wasn't is one of the first things that come to mind. "When you look back on the whole season, last year was very close to being a very special season," said the Maryland football coach during the Terrapins' annual media day. "If we had won one of those last two games, we could've been in Jacksonville playing for the ACC Championship and maybe even the Orange Bowl....

COLLEGE PARK, Md. - This time, if anyone asks Sam Hollenbach about one lump or two, it has nothing to do with sugar in his tea. This time, it has everything to do about his 6-foot-5 frame. The University of Maryland's quarterback uncovered a hidden dimension to the Terrapins' attack on Saturday. It was the quarterback running with the ball, which had a direct impact on a 26-20 victory over North Carolina State. "It was fun to get a little running in," the senior said.

COLLEGE PARK, Md. - The University of Maryland running attack is like the first half of a knock-knock riddle. The Terrapins have built their ground game around four running backs, with one always seeming to have the right answer when opportunity knocks. The Terps have excelled, though, when one of those backs has answered in anticipation of that knock. That's the friendly rivalry of the Maryland running game. Running backs Keon Lattimore, Lance Ball, Josh Allen and J.P. Humber are best of friends and work together to keep the Terps moving on the ground.

COLLEGE PARK, Md. - The Maryland football team has been coming up a dollar short in fourth quarters. Breaks and close games have gone against the Terrapins over the last few years. And in many cases, it came down to plays in the fourth quarter. And just why is anyone's guess. "It's frustrating," Maryland quarterback Sam Hollenbach said. "It's not just in one game. It's something we have struggled in since last year. The errors and mistakes are killing us. " Since coach Ralph Friedgen has been at Maryland, the Terps have had some difficulties in the fourth quarter.

bobp@herald-mail.com COLLEGE PARK, Md. With one offensive adjustment, the University of Maryland turned its homecoming matchup with No. 19 Virginia into a sing-along. It was easy when they started to follow the bouncing Ball. Running back Lance Ball, that is. The Terrapins showed some slightly different looks and featured Ball by using an inside run out of a shotgun set that turned into sweet music in a surprising 45-33 Atlantic Coast Conference win on Saturday at Byrd Stadium.

bobp@herald-mail.com COLLEGE PARK, Md. - Keon Lattimore's performance against Wake Forest was about as refreshing as a cold beer on a hot day. Lattimore quenched the University of Maryland's thirst for a running game with his career-best 76 yards and a touchdown in the 22-12 win. And it's all because the sophomore has a different brand to the game. He used to be Keon. Now he is Keon Light. Lattimore enhanced his game by dropping 20 pounds to get ready to make good on any chance to play for the Terps.

bobp@herald-mail.com COLLEGE PARK, Md. - The days of football coaches are like field goals. They are either good or bad. For University of Maryland football coach Ralph Friedgen, Tuesday felt as good as splitting the uprights. "It's always better coming to talk to you guys on a Tuesday after a win," said Friedgen to the assembled media representatives at his weekly press conference. There was a much different feeling surrounding the whole program after the Terrapins played their best game of the season last Saturday in a 22-12 win at Wake Forest.

bobp@herald-mail.com COLLEGE PARK, Md. - It has been increasingly difficult for the University of Maryland football team to make a stand these days. It's tough to have a firm base with only one leg. Maryland's offense is hopping around these days, especially since the running game has been all but grounded for the last two weeks. And without the ability to run, the Terrapins have been prevented from having the ability to win. "It is frustrating because of the amount of work that we have put in it," Maryland coach Ralph Friedgen said.